The reaction of samarium(II) with manganese carbonyl: unexpected conversion of CO to formate. X-ray crystal structures of [Sm(Tp Me2) 2]Mn(CO) 5 and {[Sm(Tp Me2) 2] 2(μ-HCO 2)}Mn(CO) 5 (Tp Me2=HB(3,5-dimethylpyrazolyl)

Abstract

The reaction of [Sm(Tp Me2) 2] with Mn 2CO 10 results in the reductive cleavage of the Mn–Mn bond and the formation of the salt [Sm(Tp Me2) 2]Mn(CO) 5 which has been characterized by X-ray diffraction (Tp Me2=HB(3,5-dimethylpyrazolyl) 3). In addition a second product, [(Tp Me2) 2Sm(μ-O 2CH)Sm(Tp Me2) 2]Mn(CO) 5, was isolated and characterized crystallographically. Two mechanisms for the formation of this complex are proposed.